The annual artisan’s fair is in full swing, but you won’t find any trinkets
from endangered turtles.

Instead, you will see a giant religious mural done in colored pencil,
101 uses for a coconut and masks made of palm leaves.

In all, the quality of the art displayed at the Feria Nacional de Artesanía
is several cuts above what was there last year. The big show is for the
public but also for merchants who are anxious to stock their shelves for
the Christmas trade.

But don’t mess with the turtles. That’s the message presented at the
show by the Programa Restauración de Tortugas Marinas. On display
are works of artisans from around the country that are made of the shell
of the endangered animals. These objects are illegal, and the organization
is at the show to educate the public as well as those who make jewelry
and other objects.

Isabel Naranjo, a biologist, can display examples of how the turtle
shell is prepared for making jewelry or the way unscrupulous persons use
the whole shell as the basis for a scenic painting. If inspectors do not
catch the illegal products when a tourist leaves the country, customs agents
at the home country

usually will. The animals are protected
by international treaty.

Héctor Granados Ortega is the artist who created the giant mural.
He is an aircraft mechanic at Juan Santamaría Airport, but he suffered
an injury to his left wrist more than a year ago that put him at home in
Dulce Nombre de Cartago with a lot of time on his hands.

With his right hand, Granados created a giant mural of Christ and two
apostles. His technique was colored pencil over cardstock, and even close
up the work looks like decorative tile.

The 23-year-old artist spent 13 months creating his towering work, and
he hopes someone will pay $30,000 for it.

This year’s show that runs through Sunday gets high marks for creativity.
One artist has made hanging lamps and candle receptacles of the ubiquitous
coconut shell. Another has used dried palm leaves as the base for elaborate
masks and wall hangings.

Admission to the event is 500 colons for adults ($1.35) and half that
for youngsters. The organizer is the Comisión Nacional de Artesanía.
The event is in FERCORI, the Feria International de Costa Rica, on Calle
25 at Avenida 3 in Barrio California.

Fast boat falls to U.S. Coast Guard patrol

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

No matter how fast the boat, you can’t outrun the helicopter.

That’s what five Colombians found out last week as they headed north
some 240 nautical miles west of the Osa Peninsula. The crew of a U.S. Coast
Guard helicopter spotted the five in a so-called fast boat driven by three
heavy-duty outboard motors.

Indeed, the Coast Guard estimates that this boat had about 4,000 kilos
of little packages aboard, some 8,800 pounds. But they won’t know for sure,
because as soon as they realized they were detected, the Coast Guard said
the crew began throwing the packages over the side.

That might be because the packages contained cocaine. The Coast Guard
vessel John L. Hall quickly pounced upon the 36-foot craft and crew. A
release from the U.S. Embassy said

U.S. Coast Guard photo

The end of the chase

the boat still contained 200 kilos (440 pounds) of suspected coke. The
crew did its best to avoid detection of the cargo. The release said the
men tried to sink the boat.

The arrests of the five, whose names were not revealed, is being publicized
to mark the third anniversary of a joint patrol treaty with the U.S. and
Costa Rica.

A.M. Costa Rica’s first Halloween story contest

Since Halloween is not really celebrated in Costa Rica, we thought
we would help to get everybody into the spirit.
We are looking for your original horror stories of 1,000 words or less.

Sure, you can scare the bejeezus out of a group of boy scouts around
a campfire, but can you frighten our readers?

The stories will be judged by the A.M. editor and staff on the basis
of their originality and spook-factor. Extra points will be awarded to
stories related to Costa Rica.

The scariest will be published in our Oct. 31 edition, and the winner
will receive $25. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, Oct. 29. Send
your spooky stories to editor@amcostarica.com

This time of year is when Americans in Costa Rica are wondering where
they are going to eat a turkey with all the trimmings on Thanksgiving.

The Association of Residents of Costa Rica is providing an answer. Ryan
Piercy, the general manger of the organization, said that the Costa Rica
Marriott hotel in San Antonio de Belen is the best option.

He said there will be a big buffet with all of the food Americans have
come to expect for a Thanksgiving feast. There will be a room dedicated
to desserts.

The brunch, set for Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, is open to everyone.
The price will not be set until a few days prior, but last year’s gathering
there cost 8,000 colons per person, a little more than $20. People do not
need to pre-purchase tickets.

Piercy estimated that last year 50 people attended, and said the event
is a great place to network.

What promises to be a bigger event is the Christmas dinner and dance
hosted by the residents association and the Canada Club. Piercy said that
around 300 people showed up last year.

The party will be held at the Hotel Melia Cariari Dec. 8. Piercy
said there will be a band complete with horns and a big-band style.

Tickets will be available sometime in November through either organization.
For more information on the Thanksgiving or Christmas events call 233-8068.

California-style auctionplanned for extra house

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A couple from Flamingo is bringing a California marketing technique
here in order to sell an extra home. The idea is to sell the home at auction
even if the final price is less than the house is worth.

The idea has worked well in California and other parts of the United
States, but homeseller Stan Dorn and his wife Yanory say they have researched
the concept and found that they are the first members of the general public
to use it in Costa Rica.

The home is in the Ayarco Sur subdivision a few kilometers east of Curridabat.
Dorn, 71, came here six months ago and married. But the couple preferred
to live at the beach. Mrs. Dorn’s home in the Central Valley is the property
that is being auctioned Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Dorn said he has hired a lawyer who provides auction services for inter-bank
sales. That man is handling the paperwork and the actual auction. The couple
have set a starting bid of $79,995 which appears to be significantly less
than the actual value of the property. There is even some furniture included.

The auctioneer is seeking the usual 10 percent down on the day of the
sale with the successful bidder getting a few days to come up with the
balance.

Stan Dorn and wife Yanory

Dorn, a former contractor in California, also has been holding an open
house for potential purchasers this week, something not common in Costa
Rica. He said he has been doing a brisk business.

Cuban presented topEuropean award

Special to A.M. Costa Rica

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oswaldo Paya Sardinas, leader of a pro-democracy
movement in Cuba, has been awarded the European Parliament's top human
rights prize.

Paya was awarded the Parliament's 15th annual Sakharov Prize for launching
the Varela Project that seeks a referendum in Cuba on opening up that nation's
political system, the Parliament announced in a statement Wednesday.

Paya will be presented the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought at
an award ceremony Dec. 18 in Strasbourg, France, which is the seat of the
European Parliament.

The Sakharov award is named for the former Soviet dissident, nuclear
physicist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov, and is presented
annually to the individual or organizations who make significant contributions
to the promotion of human rights and basic freedom, and for opposing persecution
and injustice.

Earlier in 2002, Paya received the National Democratic Institute for
International Affairs' 15th annual W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award.
At a ceremony in Washington Sept. 30, the Institute hailed Paya and his
Varela Project supporters for submitting a petition with about 11,000 signatures
to the Cuban National Assembly that called for a referendum on open elections,
free speech, free enterprise, and freedom for political prisoners.

US announces declinein climate pollution

Special to A.M. Costa Rica

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of State reports that the United
States achieved a 2.7 percent decline in greenhouse gas emissions in 2000,
demonstrating the government’s action to address the problem of climate
change.

The State Department released a fact sheet on U.S. actions to control
emissions as an international meeting on climate change began in New Delhi,
India Wednesday.

The department has also released a summary of the U.S. policy on climate
change first announced by the Bush administration in February 2002.

These documents were issued as U.S. experts joined counterparts from
around the world Wednesday to convene the annual meeting on the U.N. Framework
Convention on Climate Change in New Delhi.

Bush announces‘United Nations Day’

Special to A.M. Costa Rica

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President George Bush has proclaimed Thursday United
Nations Day to mark the founding 57 years ago of the international institution.

In his proclamation statement, Bush said that the United States, as
a founding member of the U.N., reaffirms its dedication to this "vital
organization" and hopes it will continue to fulfill the vision of its founders.

Trade freedom goal ofMexico economic meeting

Special to A.M. Costa Rica

WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative issued
a statement Tuesday outlining Robert Zoellick's goals for the upcoming
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Mexico and other recent U.S.
activities aimed at "moving forward on trade liberalization, globally,
regionally, and bilaterally."

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meetings scheduled for the
week of Oct. 21 in Los Cabos, Mexico will seek to invigorate regional economic
growth through improved security, free trade, structural reforms, and new
technologies, says Lawrence Greenwood, forum coordinator for the U.S. State
Department.

"The idea is to meet all four of these challenges by getting governments
to commit to programs that will make us more secure, expand trade and investment,
accelerate structural reforms, and promote the use of efficient new technologies,"
he said.

Forum leaders, whose annual meeting will take place from Oct. 26 to
27, are expected to issue a "very strong statement on counter terrorism
that will commit governments to take specific actions within specific deadlines,"
he said.

First organic productsstandards initiated in US

Special to A.M. Costa Rica

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has implemented
the first U.S. uniform standards for organic agricultural products sold
in the United States.

As of Monday, products that are 100 percent organic or contain at least
95 percent organic ingredients may display a new "USDA Organic" seal. Products
with 70 to 95 percent organic ingredients can say so on the label but can't
display the seal, according to the agriculture department.

Briefing reporters Tuesday at the Foreign Press Center in Washington,
Keith Jones, director of program development for the agriculture department
national organic program, said the new standards come in response to U.S.
consumer demand and offer consumers more choice. The agriculture department
does not claim that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious
than other foods, he added.

The U.S. food supply — organic and non-organic — "is the safest in the
world," Jones said.

Organic farming has been one of the fastest growing segments of U.S.
agriculture for nearly a decade, now increasing 20 percent a year, Jones
said. Organic food is produced without use of most conventional pesticides,
petroleum- or sludge-based fertilizers, bioengineering or ionizing radiation,
according to the statement.

Jones said the organic standards completely prohibit antibiotics in
livestock.

He said that use of the seal is voluntary but its misuse can lead to
a fine of up to $10,000 per violation.

Also, recognizing foreign certifiers will lead to more opportunities
for foreign products to enter the U.S. market, Jones said. The United States'
major food imports now include processed food products, cheese and wine
from Europe and coffee from Latin America and Southeast Asia, Jones said.

Opposition in Venezuelaremains defiant

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

CARACAS, Venezuela — A dozen generals and admirals opposed to the government
of President Hugo Chavez, and who Tuesday called for the president's resignation,
are still defying the elements in a Caracas square, surrounded by civilian
supporters. The group is determined to hold out until Chavez quits or holds
elections.

The group of 14 senior officers, led by General Enrique Medina, a former
military attaché in Washington, declared a policy of disobedience
against a government they describe as autocratic and illegitimate.

The group, which has received the support of several dozen, mostly more
junior officers, invokes two articles of the country's constitution. These
enshrine the right to rebel against any authority or law that violates
human rights or the constitution.

Many members of the group were prominent in the events of April 11 to
14, when Chavez was briefly ousted by the military after 19 people were
shot dead during an opposition march.

The government has dismissed them as coup plotters with no backing in
the armed forces. The rebel-officers have no command of troops, and say
they do not, in any case, favor a coup. But they have called on civilians
as well as fellow soldiers to join them in a policy of civil disobedience
to force Chavez from power.

Their move caught even many veteran observers of the military by surprise,
and has placed the civilian opposition in a difficult position. Less than
24 hours before their pronouncement, a one-day nationwide strike against
the government had ended with a call for a referendum on whether the president
should stay in power.

Former first son dies in gasoline accident

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — The son of former President Arnoldo Aleman has
died along with three other people in an unusual accident on the former
president's property.

An Aleman family spokeswoman said the former president's 23-year-old
son, German Arnoldo Cardenal, watched Tuesday as a worker was pumping water
from a well on the president's ranch, some 30 miles southeast of the capital
Managua.

The spokeswoman said the pump malfunctioned and began spewing gasoline.
The worker passed out from the fumes and fell into the well.

The ex-president's son is said to have rushed to the scene to help but
he too was overcome by fumes and fell into the water. Two presidential
bodyguards who tried to come to the aid of the president's son also passed
out from the gas and drowned.

In a related incident, an armed, drunken supporter of the former president
stormed the offices of the newspaper La Presna. The man was reported to
be angry about the death of the president's son and blamed the newspaper
because it had been critical of the former president.

Leftist rebels probedfor drug trafficking

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

BOGOTA, Colombia — Officials say the attorney general's office is investigating
several top members of a leftist rebel group for drug trafficking.

Colombia's El Tiempo newspaper said Wednesday that officials intercepted
communications between the rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia and obtained several statements linking the group to drug trafficking.

The investigation is the first of its kind into the alleged drug trafficking
activities of the group known as the FARC. Those implicated include the
group's leader, Manuel Marulanda, as well as top members Jorge Briceno,
Raul Reyes and Joaquin Gomez.

Officials say the rebels use money from drug trafficking and kidnapping
to finance a 38-year insurgency that has killed thousands of people each
year. Colombia supplies about 90 percent of the world's cocaine.

Tovar meets EU diplomats

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Foreign Minister of Costa Rica, Roberto Tovar, met Wednesday with
diplomatic representatives of the European Union to explore economic opportunities
between the two parties.

He met with the Ambassadors of European Union countries accredited in
Costa Rica and spoke about the opportunities available in the region, the
new regional agenda, the free trade agreement between Central America and
the United States, the Panama People Plan and the possibility of an economical
association with the European Union, according to a release from the ministry.

Murder victim died
Tuesday, not Monday

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A Canadian teacher who became a murder victim in Heredia died early
Tuesday and not early Monday, police said Wednesday.

The man, Bradly Michael Whipple, 25, was from Saint John, New Brunswick,
Canada, a family spokesman said Wednesday. He was described as a traveling
English teacher who always tried to learn the local language.

A Fuerza Pública spokesman said that the man was confronted by
a band of about 10 thugs just 100 meters west of Plaza Heredia. The spokesman
said the time of the assault was about 45 minutes past midnight.

Whipple was teaching and taking Spanish lessons at the Universidad Interamerican
in Heredia and had spent just three months in the country.

Guard arrested after shooting suspect

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A man tried to break into the Vasconia restaurant on Avenida 1 about
2 a.m. Wednesday, and a private security guard shot him in the leg. Police
arrested the security guard.

The Vasconia is an economical eating place frequented by many North
Americans. The burglar tried to get into the building through the roof.
The wounded man was identified by the last names of Meneses Rojas. He went
to Hospital San Juan de Dios.

The security guard, identified by the last names of Garita Garita, did
not have all the required permits to carry a gun, said a Fuerza Pública
spokesman. The owner of the restaurant was identified as Jaime García
Castillo.

Intel will open$2 billion facility

Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif., has opened a $2 billion expansion
to its manufacturing facility in Rio Rancho, N.M., the company said Wednesday.

The new expansion uses advanced manufacturing technologies to produce
tiny microprocessors. The facility is more than 1 million square feet in
size with 200,000 square feet of clean room space, the company said.

Intel also has facilities in San José.

OAS: Chavez opponentsrequire diplomacy

Special to A.M. Costa Rica

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Opposition forces in Venezuela should use only democratic,
peaceful, and constitutional means to address their differences with President
Hugo Chavez's government, says Cesar Gaviria, secretary general of the
Organization of American States.

In a statement Tuesday, Gaviria responded to previous comments made
by a group of Venezuelan military officials calling for a military insurrection
and civil disobedience and demanding the resignation of Chavez.

Gaviria said such calls by the military go against the fourth article
of the organization’s Inter-American Democratic Charter, which establishes
that one of the "essential elements" of democracy is "the constitutional
subordination of all state institutions to the legally constituted civilian
authority and respect for the rule of law on the part of all institutions
and sectors of society." Gaviria said that this obligation "extends to
all those" who belong to such institutions and sectors.

The secretary general said the "attitudes and demands" made by the military
"betray the constitutional loyalty that officials of the Venezuelan armed
forces owe" to Chavez.

For its part, the United States has encouraged Chavez and the opposition
to engage in a dialogue that will produce a political solution to the present
crisis in Venezuela.

Otto Reich, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere
affairs, said in a speech Oct. 15 that the United States "will not support
or condone unconstitutional actions to remove the government or to maintain
it in power."

Speaking at the Americas Conference in Miami, Reich said that Chavez,
as the leader of Venezuela, "has the principal responsibility for protecting
the political process and the rights of all Venezuelans."

Reich said that the Organization of American States can play an important
role in "mediating a dialogue between the respective parties." The United
States, he said, urges the government and the opposition in Venezuela "to
avail themselves" of the "good offices" of the organization.

Korea give carsas friendship gift

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The ambassador of South Korea has presented a gift to the foreign ministry
of Costa Rica.

Chin Soong-Chull, South Korean ambassador, gave four vehicles and electronic
equipment to the government here in a package worth around $130,000, according
to a press release from Costa Rica’s Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
y Culto.

Roberto Tovar, the chancellor of Costa Rica, accepted the gift on behalf
of the people of Costa Rica.

He said the gift is worth more than its value in money. He said the
equipment would help his department fulfil its duties, but above all it
signifies the friendship between Costa Rica and the people of South Korea
and their government.

Tovar praised South Korea for being a small but great country. He said
that Costa Rica can learn a lot from its example. This year marks 40 years
of diplomatic relations between the two countries

Residents groupto help orphans

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Oratorio Don Bosco De Sor Maria Romero is getting help from the Association
of Residents of Costa Rica to fight against the problem of neglected children
here.

The Don Bosco organization currently has facilities downtown that provide
for impoverished children, but the residents association posted a notice
that reveals the plans for a new orphange.

Polo LaCoste, the president of the association of residents, said members
have already donated computers and school supplies to the children’s charity.

Now the association is looking for volunteers to teach English at the
orphanage, and it is not necessary for them to speak Spanish. The association
is asking for a five-month commitment from volunteers to head a 45-minute
class once a week, according to the notice.

LaCoste said progress has already been made with the children. The Don
Bosco organization, handling around 100 children, has a choir and a band
equipped with donated instruments, he said.

Virginia Chavez, the sub-director at Don Bosco, said the band and choir
left Wednesday on a bus tour to perform in Nicaragua. Some 25 children
from the organization will see Managua, Grenada and Masaya before returning
on Saturday.

The Costa Rican resident association is looking to raise more money
and find volunteers for the children. If a person is interested they can
call 233-8068 for information.

Argentine leader seeks timetable for elections

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — President Eduardo Duhalde has asked Congress
to endorse a timetable for presidential elections, saying he intends to
step down in May of next year.

Duhalde issued the appeal Tuesday here when he made a rare appearance
before Congress.

The president has called for elections to be held six months early,
in March of next year.

Congress, however, has never endorsed the move and several court rulings
challenging Duhalde's ability to set election dates have thrown the balloting
into question.

Argentines have been demanding fresh leadership to guide the country
out of its financial problems. Argentina has been in recession the past
four years and defaulted on $141 billion in public debt.

Professional Directory

A.M. Costa Rica's professional directory is where business
people who wish to reach the English-speaking community may invite responses.
If you are interested in being represented here, please contact the
editor.